The Northern Light - March 26, 2015

March 26 - April 1, 2015

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IN THIS

ISSUE

Home and Garden special section, pages 8-9

Fugitive nabbed at Blaine border

Library gets vintage newspapers, page 10

PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230

Steward joins city council, page 13

A bigger, better beach

By Steve Guntli A man accused of going on a criminal rampage that ended in the shooting of a police officer in Portland, Oregon, was arrested at the border last week.

Jamaell Diamond Riley, 26, was arrested after trying to enter Canada on March 19. According to reports, Riley brandished a knife at two Canadian border agents after they stopped him. Riley and his girlfriend, Carli Anja Marshall, 20, were then turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Riley attempted to break out of his restraints as Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies transported him to Whatcom County Jail. No one was injured in the arrest.

Riley and two other suspects were arrested last April in connection with a series of robberies and burglaries in the Portland area. One of the suspects fired shots at a Portland police officer and his dog, wounding the officer and killing the dog.

Riley was not the shooter, but according to the police report, he did have a gun on him at the time of the shooting.

On March 18, Riley cut off his ankle monitoring bracelet and fled for the border. Portland police issued a felony warrant for his arrest. Riley has more than a dozen warrants out for his arrest in Multnomah County, Oregon, including first-degree burglary, first-degree kidnapping and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

Marshall has three warrants out for prostitution.

Riley is being held in the Whatcom County Jail on a $2 million bond. Marshall was released on March 21 after posting a $15,000 bail. Riley will be extradited back to Oregon for trial.

s The shoreline improvement project at Marine Park in Blaine is already showing a dramatic difference. City crews have removed the large concrete blocks near Telescope Beach and laid down cobble along the shore. According to deputy community planner Alex Wenger, the next step will be to plant beach grass for erosion control and native plants to separate the beach from the bird sanctuary to the east. Photo by Pat Grubb

Canadian murder suspect killed at Sumas border crossing

By Steve Guntli A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent shot and killed a man attempting to illegally cross the border near Sumas.

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on March 19, two agents confronted the suspect,

who had set off a sensor after he entered the country illegally. Agents found the man about 600 feet south of the crossing on Kneuman Road.

The CBP agents confirmed the man was behaving erratically. The suspect attacked a border agent with pepper spray after he was confronted as a suspected illegal. The

Satpal Sidhu appointed to Whatcom County Council

By Ian Ferguson Whatcom County Council voted 5–1 to appoint Satpal Sidhu the district 2 representative, a seat left vacant following the resignation of Sam Crawford. The appointment is valid until the general election this fall.

In a phone interview, Sidhu said he was

“excited and a little bit humbled,” to have been chosen for the position.

“I think my approach will be to listen to the needs of the community and make common sense decisions to support job growth, environmental protection and simplifying government,” Sidhu said, going on to highlight the importance of agri-

culture in Whatcom County.

“People are always surprised when I tell them we are one of the highest dairy-producing counties in the United States, so the dairy industry in Whatcom County is one I want to promote and support. In addition to dairy, we have a lot of berry (See Sidhu, page 2)

border agent was not seriously injured in the attack. The agent fired his service pistol and killed the suspect as he was attempting to flee. Medical examiners confirmed the suspect died at the scene from a (See Shooting, page 3)

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Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Coming Up . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

...and the merchants of Blaine and Birch Bay 2015 State Middle School Math Championship Students, Families & Coaches MARCH 28 Providing energy and improving lives.

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The Northern Light • March 26 - April 1, 2015

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Sidhu ...

From page 1

production, but fairly minimal processing. There could be an opportunity to bring in business and create jobs. These are things that should be explored, because agriculture is an important feature of our local economy.”

Sidhu, Kathy Kershner and Jim Cozad applied for Crawford’s seat, which he vacated in January citing a work promotion. Councilmembers Carl Weimer, Ken Mann, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan and Pete Kremen voted for Sidhu. Councilmember Barbara Brenner said she voted for Cozad because of his commitment not to run in the general election.

Whatcom County Republicans issued a press release expressing their disappointment that Sidhu

was chosen instead of Kershner, a Republican who served four years on the council. The release said Crawford was a Republican-endorsed candidate who was voted to the position four times in a row, and as such his replacement should also have been a Republican.

“Why then has the current county council gone against the will of the people and given the district 2 seat to a liberal Democrat who did not win the vote of the people in district 2 in his bid for state representative in 2014?” the statement reads. Whatcom County elections are historically non-partisan.

Sidhu took exception to being labeled a “liberal Democrat,” and said he would be able to represent the wants and needs of the district he has lived in for 30 years.

“I really defy this labeling of people,” Sidhu said. “The same

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person may make a ‘liberal’ decision one day on one certain topic, and a ‘conservative’ decision the next day when faced with a different issue. Our values should be, make a common-sense argument and let’s weigh the merits of that argument, instead of this political rhetoric pitting liberals against conservatives. It’s not good for the country.”

Sidhu lives in Lynden and has worked as an engineer, business owner and a dean at Bellingham Technical College (BTC). While working at BTC, Sidhu helped create a degree program that trains local students for high wage jobs in local refineries and manufacturing industries. He also owns two businesses – The Spice Hut, a teashop in Bellingham that he co-owns with his wife Mundir Sidhu, and LyndenBerry, a company that exports berries to Asia.

In 2014, Sidhu was the Democratic candidate for district 42a of the Washington House of Representatives. He received 44.3 percent of the vote but lost the election to Republican Luanne Van Werven, who garnered 55.7 percent of the vote.

County councilmember Ken Mann, who voted to appoint Sidhu to the vacant seat, said Sidhu’s business background was a major draw. “I’m excited to have the benefit of his business experience on the council,” Mann said.

Sidhu said he intends to run for a council position in the fall election.

“The new county jail and water rights are some of the issues that will be facing the council fairly soon. As an engineer with construction experience, I think I will bring a valuable perspective to help the council deal with some of these issues,” Sidhu said.

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March 26 - April 1, 2015 • thenorthernlight.com

Shooting ...

From page 1

gunshot wound to the head.

On March 20, police identified the dead man as 20-year-old Jamison Edward Childress. Spokesmen for the CBP confirmed Childress was wanted for murder in another jurisdiction. According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Childress had been carrying a backpack containing a hatchet, but did not brandish the hatchet at the approaching officers. Childress did not have a gun on him.

Childress was wanted in connection to the murder of 18-yearold Brando Walker of Calgary, according to a report by CBC News.

Fishermen from the Tsuu T’ina

First Nation near the Elbow River found Walker’s partially burned body on March 7.

On March 20, Walker’s friends and family began posting links to news of Childress’ death on Walker’s memorial Facebook page, using the hashtag #justiceforbrando.

RCMP officers have three other suspects already in custody.

Childress had been charged with malicious mischief and assault in Prince George, B.C. in 2013, and had also been arrested for theft in Fraser Lake, B.C. in September 2014. He was due to stand trial for the 2013 charges on March 20.

Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo said his department will be leading a multi-department investigation into the shooting, and would not comment on the de-

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Taiwanese busted with $231,000 worth of ecstasy Two Taiwanese nationals were caught with nearly a quarter of a million dollars worth of drugs near the Blaine border.

On March 17, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents arrested Min-Hsiang Yuan and Cheng-Long Cai and charged them with possession with intent to distribute.

Yuan was driving a Ford pickup truck on H Street near Valley View Road. CBP agents stopped him at 11:10 p.m. and found 23 kilograms, or more than 50 pounds, of granular powder in vacuum-sealed freezer bags.

Testing revealed the powder to

tails until more progress had been made. Both CBP agents involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure following a shooting. The officer who pulled the trigger received medical care for the pepper spray.

Made fresh in Whatcom County at

be MDMA, a drug commonly known as ecstasy or Molly. The value of the drugs is estimated at more than $231,000.

CBP agents, with the help of police dogs, found Cai in the woods. Yuan claimed to be a tourist, and Cai a hiker. CBP agents believe Cai dropped the drugs and Yuan picked them up.

CBP agents determined the men to be Taiwanese citizens.

The two men are being held pending an April 1 preliminary hearing. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are looking into the case.

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The Northern Light • March 26 - April 1, 2015

Opinion

The Northern L ght The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc. Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, and the summer recreation guide Waterside as well as maps and other publications. Point Roberts Press Inc. is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, Chambers of Commerce of Bellingham/ Whatcom County, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts and the Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors.

Letters Policy The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters are limited to 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste.

Thank-you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication.

Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published. Email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com.

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@thenorthernlight.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@thenorthernlight.com Editor Steve Guntli steve@pointrobertspress.com Copy Editor Kara Furr kara@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Ian Ferguson ian@pointrobertspress.com Creative Services Doug De Visser, Ruth Lauman production@thenorthernlight.com Office Manager Amy Weaver info@thenorthernlight.com Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Janet McCall Catherine Darkenwald sales@thenorthernlight.com General Editorial Inquiries editor@thenorthernlight.com Contributors In This Issue Kitty King, Angee Bolick, Debby Abe The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200 Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XX, No 41 Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

Next issue: April 2 Ads due: March 27

The Editor: I read with interest a recent letter to the editor by Kay Warner. What Ms. Warner doesn’t understand about the current problems hounding the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) would fill an encyclopedia, and her suggested remedies would only add insult to the ongoing injuries already inflicted on the workers, most of whom are doing the best they can.

Several years ago, the U.S. Congress and the Bush administration passed a law requiring the postal service to fully fund their pension system so far into the future that they are putting money aside for people who aren’t even old enough to work there.

The goal was not to ensure retirement benefits and old age pensions but to destroy the USPS’ ability to provide the service they do for an affordable rate, thus causing the collapse of the USPS and with it the destruction of the postal workers’ union.

This has caused huge financial problems within USPS, spraying red ink on their balance sheet for as far as the eye can see. In response, USPS financial managers have been cutting everything they can to try and reduce the gap between their postage income, which actually covers their operating costs just fine, and the newly added obligation to set aside billions of dollars they don’t have.

The fact that the local postmaster is doing labor in a so-called closed shop union work environment and the union is not raising holy heck is telling. The USPS is sinking, and it’s all hands on deck. Workers are over-worked, hours and positions are being cut and we routinely hear about efforts to end Saturday delivery as a way to cut costs. You’d have a poor attitude too if you worked in this environment.

So we could take Ms. Warner’s advice and call up the USPS to complain about the poor attitude of the people on the front line who are getting their teeth kicked in by congress, upper management and unhappy customers, or we could call our members of congress and tell them to end the ridiculous requirement of funding retirement pensions for people too young to work.

Matthew Lang Blaine The Editor: The post office grounds look lovely.

Need I say more?

Sandie Miller Blaine The Editor: I guess we should thank the traffic control folks for allowing all of us to enjoy the freedom of living here in America and the Blaine area. You see people enjoying the freedom of running red lights, speeding and not using their turn signals, just to name a few violations, every day.

I used to be surprised if I ever saw someone run a red light, now I fully ex-

pect them to. It used to be look left, right, left, before crossing an intersection. Now I look left, right, left, right, left constantly when driving anywhere.

If you’re going the speed limit on our highways and byways, you’d better hold on to your doors because you’ll get them blown off by everyone speeding past, and they’re not all out-of-state plates on those vehicles.

Turn signals have obviously become outdated on most vehicles from the lack of use that you see.

The semis on the interstate are either in a big hurry to get in line to cross the border or have been in line up way too long and now have to hurry to make up time on their way down south.

I am proud to be an American and enjoy the freedom that it provides. I just hope I get to use that freedom and that I don’t get T-boned at the next intersection I go through.

Jim Stellick Blaine The Editor: My family moved to Blaine four years ago to enjoy country living and a small-town community. We enjoy Marine Park and the handful of shops and cafes. A bookstore would be a great addition. There certainly are enough empty buildings downtown to accommodate more retail.

Having a background in retail I understand the strain in these uncertain economic times. I’m not sure having an Amtrak stop in Blaine would bring in many Canadians since most of them seem to head home with a car full of groceries and gas cans. Like the Canadians, I take my large vehicle to Bellingham to stock up at warehouse stores, so taking the train south would not be practical for shopping. It might work for commuters or the occasional tourist.

Some of the benefits of the downtown area are free parking, no crowds at the gardener’s market and no waiting at restaurants. I enjoy the waterfront shopping in La Conner and the unusual shops in Fairhaven, but with growth come traffic and crowds. I would like to see Blaine stay small and current. Edaleen Dairy is a new fresh place for the community to gather. It’s nice to get an ice cream or coffee and walk around downtown or along the marina.

Anticipating the addition of a playground at Marine Park reminds me of the scene at Boulevard Park in Bellingham with children playing, parents visiting, folks playing volleyball and Frisbee and people walking their dogs. Now if only we had a pedestrian bridge across the water so Semiahmoo folks could walk or bicycle across the bridge to our downtown area. It seems a little over the top to spend so much on a playground since it caters to a small age group. A safe place to bicycle would nice for all ages.

The library is continually offering ac-

tivities for all ages, the community/senior center is eventful, and the PAC has fun entertainment. We have a variety of places to eat, wonderful parks and several annual events. Blaine is a thriving little town.

Gretel Conaway Blaine The Editor: Tourism provides over 5,000 jobs in Whatcom County. Birch Bay parks, hotels and restaurants account for some of those. Another 2,300 jobs come from fishing, fish processing, boat building and repair. I don’t know how many jobs are farm-dependent but the number is significant. Farmers and fish rely on clean, reliable water for survival, as do we all.

The proposed 640-acre Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) at Cherry Point will employ 257 people. GPT’s permit application to the Whatcom County PUD grants a daily average 5.33 million gallons of Nooksack River water until 2042. Water will be sprayed on the 2.5 miles of open coal piles, preventing dust from blowing onto Birch Bay homes and BP Refinery instrumentation. The highest demand for water will be in summer when farmers, fish and homeowners are most dependent on the already stressed Nooksack source.

More than 8,500 people reside in Birch Bay year-round with a summer population up to 24,000. Eighteen coal trains, each 1.5 miles long, will enter and leave Birch Bay and Custer daily, along with one or two oil trains. We are presently adjusting to the echo noise of oil trains, but it would become a 24/7 din with coal trains.

Modern coal ships are over 1,000 feet long and will share Cherry Point with oil tankers. Herring beds, fishermen, salmon and orcas won’t survive the daily arrival of foreign ships with invasive species carried on hulls and in ballast water or escaping coal toxins.

New business grows steadily between the Bellingham Airport and Ferndale.

Blaine added border crossing, dairy, supply and freight-dependent jobs. Whatcom County is growing new jobs. GPT will cost existing jobs in fishing, tourism, farming and home values.

Alice Brown Birch Bay The Editor: GPT proponents try to fool us into thinking the coal export terminal would be harmless; they say it wouldn’t hurt our environment. The ads and spokesmen say GPT would be “state-of-the-art;” it would have “zero percent emissions,” and GPT would have “no odors, dust, or dirt emitted that are detectable beyond the property line.” But anyone with basic Continued on next page Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

Civic Meetings Birch Bay Water & Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4:30 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info: bbwsd.com.

Birch Bay Watershed & Aquatic Resources Management District: Third Wednesday, 6 p.m., location varies. Info: bbwarm.whatcom county.org.

Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: ci.blaine.wa.us.

Blaine Parks Board: Third Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.

Blaine Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 7 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: blainepc@ cityofblaine.com.

Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info: blaine.wednet.edu.

Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Birch Bay Chamber Officem 7900 Birch Bay Drive, Birch Bay. Info: blainebirchbayparkandrec.org

North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 7 p.m. Blaine Fire Station. Info: nwfrs.net.

March 26 - April 1, 2015 • thenorthernlight.com

Letters ...

From previous page

common sense knows if you put an uncovered pile of a substance like coal on the ground, some of it would be carried away by wind and rain – it would have emissions.

GPT would put 2.5 miles of six-story high, uncovered coal stockpiles completely exposed to the wind and rain on the ground at Cherry Point. Wind, rain and tidal currents would spread GPT’s toxic coal dust through the air and water to our bays and beaches, to our communities, our homes, yards and gardens, to our food and our lungs.

While GPT proponents try to fool us with these ludicrous claims, GPT’s official permit application on file in Whatcom County says, in fact, that uncovered coal stockpiles generate windblown dust and GPT’s techniques for trying to control coal dust emissions would consist of “…perimeter soil berms, regular pavement sweeping and/ or application of chemical surfactants,” and spraying the coal with up to 1.9 billion gallons of our Nooksack River water annually. That’s water we need for farms, fish and drinking.

And while GPT proponents say it would be harmless, GPT’s permit application says GPT’s potential impacts include “degradation in water quality, im-

pacts on spawning fish populations and shoreline and tidal impacts,” and GPT could “impede tribal or commercial fishing success or tourism.”

We the people of Whatcom County depend upon the shared natural treasures provided by our beautiful environment – clean air, land and water. We’re not fools. We won’t permit GPT to destroy the natural treasures that our lives and livelihoods depend upon. So SSA Marine, Montana and Wyoming, please keep your coal, cover your own homes with it, breathe it or eat it. Here in Whatcom County we prefer to keep and eat our salmon.

Paula Rotundi Blaine

erate at a loss. No businessperson will allow himself or herself to be placed in the position of working for the state for free.

Let’s be sure the laws we create do not promote a society none of us can be proud of.

Mark Nelson Bellingham

The Editor: HB 1355 – increasing the minimum wage to $12 per hour in Washington state – sounds like a wonderful idea. The bill, as Representative Vincent Buys states, is well intentioned. But if you are a small- to medium-sized business, those starting wages may be the reason not to hire another full- or part-time worker. That increase may be an economic imperative not to provide a benefit previously considered.

Or that business may increase prices, and thus reduce gross sales of goods or services.

Representative Buys is aware of a fact many publicly elected officials do not consider. No businessman or woman can op-

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CITY OF BLAINE Unless noted, all meetings are held at City Hall, 435 Martin Street, Suite 4000 and are open to the public.

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The Northern Light • March 26 - April 1, 2015

Sports Track teams off to a good start 15+ years experience

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NOTICE OF FLUSHING

The City of Blaine Water Division started flushing the City's water distribution system. This is accomplished by opening hydrants along the system (starting at the well fields) to move fresh water throughout the distribution system.

The purpose of flushing the system is to remove any grit and debris in order to improve water quality through the distribution system.

During the city flushing program city water customers may experience a temporary low water pressure and/or cloudiness when flushing is going on. The cloudiness condition (caused by air) should be only temporary, and can be cleared by running a cold water tap for a few minutes to clean and flush your service line. If the condition continues for an extended period of time please contact the Blaine Public Works.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, feel free to call Public Works at 332-8820.

Leroy Dougall, Blaine Public Works.

By Ian Ferguson The Blaine track and field teams had a strong showing against regional rivals Mount Baker and Anacortes in the first meet of the season, a Northwest Conference meet at Anacortes March 19.

Blaine athletes took wins in 12 girls events and 10 boys events.

In comparison to most of the schools Blaine will be up against this season, Mount Baker and Anacortes have small teams. For that reason, head coach Cary Bacon was cautious in his optimism following the meet.

“Their teams are about our size, so we have to temper our enthusiasm a little bit,” Bacon said. “Most of the schools we’ll be competing against to get to the postseason have much bigger teams. Still, it was great for us to start the season with a lot of wins.”

Sprinter and hurdler Kieya Villars stood out on the girls team.

She won all four of her events: the 300m hurdles (51.39 seconds), the four-by-100m relay (53.06), the four-by-200m relay (1:54.10) and the four-by-400m relay (4:25). Blaine’s relay teams looked strong at Anacortes, but Bacon said it’s too early to tell how they will fare down the stretch against larger teams.

“So far, the relay teams are looking better than they were last year at this time,” Bacon said.

Senior Elle Moore and sophomore Kiana Gray swept the throwing events, with Moore throwing the discus 101.25 feet and tossing the javelin 89 feet, 8 inches. Gray won the shot put with a throw of 30 feet, .5 inches.

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s Steven Crafts leaps in the long jump at a home meet last season.

Crafts and 21 other Blaine athletes won their events in a meet at Anacortes March 19.

Photo by Ian Ferguson

“This was Kiana’s first time throwing in competition, so for her to win was impressive,” Bacon said.

Olivia Adams had the highest pole vault of the day, although the measured height of 12 feet, 3 inches is in question.

“They may have been measuring from where the pole gets planted rather than from the ground,” Bacon explained. “Either way, she had the highest jump at the meet.”

Taylor V’Dovec won the high jump with a leap of 4 feet, 10 inches. Hillary Kiele won the 800m run with a time of 2:26.35, and Ashley Delligatti won the 400m with a time of 66 seconds.

Alejandro Campos won the triple jump with a distance of 28 feet, 4 inches.

On the boys team, senior Jon Fakkema won the shot put and the discus, with distances of 42 feet, 7 inches and 130 feet, 11 inches

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respectively. Sophomore Alfonso Dermendziev set personal records in the 100m and 400m runs, winning both events. Dermendziev ran the 100m in 11.35 seconds and the 400m in 56.01 seconds.

“He’s already shown a lot of improvement from his freshman year,” Bacon said.

Senior Steven Crafts easily won the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 3.5 inches. Haden Anthony cleared 5 feet to win the high jump, and Alev Gehringer and Gage Lott tied to win the pole vault, clearing 11 feet. Tucker Jensen won the javelin toss with a distance of 122 feet, 3 inches, and the relay team won the four-by-100m with a time of 46.84 seconds.

Overall, it was a good start, Bacon said.

The Borderites will travel to Lynden for their next meet, the Bedlington Invitational, on Friday, March 27. The meet begins at 3:30 p.m.

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March 26 - April 1, 2015 • thenorthernlight.com

Boys golf team shows early improvement

By Ian Ferguson For younger golfers, the first few high school tournaments tend to be a steep learning curve.

Unlike a round played among friends, every golfer has to keep their own score as well as that of another golfer in the group. Add in the pressure of a higher level of competition, and it’s a lot more to handle than simply hitting the ball towards the hole.

Blaine boys golf coach Steve Barthlow said the team is small this year, but the younger players are showing talent and improvement in their first few tournaments. This year’s team has two seniors, one junior, one sophomore and two freshmen on varsity, and three other players swinging between varsity and junior varsity.

“I’m looking forward to this year,” Barthlow said. “We have a good group of golfers who are listening well, working hard and showing growth. Our goal is to improve our conference standing from last year, and I think we have a good chance of doing that.”

Aaron Onyon-Peterson and Charlie Baldwin, both seniors who played in multiple tournaments last year, are leading the team in the early-season tournaments so far. The other players are learning the basics of tournament play. Most recently, the team traveled to Sunnyside for a large-format tournament called the Grandview Invitational on March 23.

“We’ve gone there the past 10 years, and there are usually about 20 schools in the tournament. It’s a good chance to get tournament experience early in the season, a good chance for the team to bond together and the weather is usually good,” Barthlow said. “With the drier courses on the east side of the state, it’s a totally different game. On a good low shot, the ball will roll for a country mile.”

Despite course conditions different from what they are used to, three Blaine golfers shot their best score of the season. Onyon-Peterson shot a 92, Baldwin shot a 93 and sophomore Jackson Bray shot a 99.

“Jackson [Bray] went up 11

strokes on three holes, and I think he struggled with windy conditions during those three holes, which is something that experience helps you manage. If you look at the rest of his play other than those three holes, he played really well, especially for a younger player,” Barthlow said.

“The score doesn’t matter as long as we’re learning, and to have three guys shoot their best score

of the season, that’s a big positive for me.”

The team kicked off the season shooting 587 against Lynden and Burlington-Edison at Homestead Golf Course March 11, then shot a team score of 544 at North Bellingham Golf Course March 17. Barthlow said the team has shown steady improvement.

“We’ve gotten better each tournament, and I’m hoping the varsity players can continue to improve their scores. They’re learning to keep an even keel and play the ball as it lies,” Barthlow said.

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Baseball (1–3) March 19: Blaine defeats NSV 6-3 at home.

March 24: Blaine loses to Ferndale 5–4 away.

Softball (0–2) March 19: Blaine loses to NSV 14-3 away.

Boys Soccer (2–2–0, 0–1–0 NWC) March 19: Blaine defeats Meridian 4–3 at home March 21: Blaine loses to NSV 4–2 at home March 24: Blaine loses to Burlington-Edison 5–1 at home Track & Field (1–0) March 19: Blaine boys and girls teams win in a meet at Anacortes against Mount Baker and Anacortes

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Although it may be a rebuilding year, Barthlow said the future of the team is bright.

“If these younger guys keep up their improvement and play over the summer, we’ll get better next year and the year after that. That’s the benefit of having a young team,” Barthlow said.

Blaine will play in the Birger-Solberg Golf Tournament at Bellingham Golf and Country Club, hosted by Ferndale on Thursday, March 26. Athletes tee off at 12:30 p.m.

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Julia is a second grader who always brings her smile with her to Club. Julia enjoys playing outside with her friends during free time and can always be found doing her homework at Power Hour. She helpful to the staff and always has a kind and encouraging word for her peers.

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The Northern Light • March 26 - April 1, 2015

&

GARDEN

A monthly special section in The Northern Light

Help your lawn thrive through the growing season

S t o ry a n d p h o t o s

by Angee Bolick Spring has arrived and lawns are waking from winter slumber. Proper spring maintenance and a little TLC should help your lawn thrive throughout the growing season.

Do you have moss growing in your lawn? Many factors promote lawn moss growth: com-

pacted soil, poor drainage, low soil PH, shade and poor air circulation. Moss growth can be reduced by providing proper drainage, fertilizer, aeration, adding iron and adding lime to sweeten the soil. You may consider having a soil sample taken to identify your lawn’s condition.

If you have never aerated your lawn, you could be hindering its growth. Aeration is

a must with any lawn care regimen. It is vital in helping to maintain a healthy, beautiful, green lawn. Aeration supports weed control, improves the soil structure, creates growth pockets for new root systems and helps to maximize water and fertilizer absorption.

Angee Bolick works with North County Lawn Care in Custer.

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L&I staff can explain the options that may be available to resolve any issue with the contractor. Depending on the situation, L&I may assign an inspector to the case. That could lead to civil infractions or criminal charges for the contractor.

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Hire smart by hiring a registered contractor Hiring a registered contractor is an important first step to protect homeowners. The state requires contractors to register with L&I. The department confirms that they have a business license, liability insurance and bond – requirements that give homeowners some monetary recourse if something goes wrong.

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The Northern Light • March 26 - April 1, 2015

Historical headlines: Blaine Library receives newspaper archive

By Ian Ferguson When she received a call asking if the library would be interested in a collection of Blaine newspapers dating back to the 1926, Blaine librarian Debbie Farmer knew it was an opportunity not to be missed.

The Blaine Library received more than a dozen boxes of archive copies of The Blaine Journal-Press and The Blaine Journal in February, and volunteers are helping the library sort them into permanent storage.

“From what I understand the newspapers had been in a previous auction and an historical group in Sumas had purchased them to look through the obituaries. Then they put them up for auction again, and a librarian in Sumas called to let me know,” Farmer said. “I said, ‘OK, we’ll figure out what to do with them.’”

The library acquired the collec-

s Sandra Bogen sorts a collection of old Blaine Journal newspapers into archive boxes at the Blaine Library on March 13.

waterside.

Photos by Ian Ferguson

tion for $60, and local citizens’ group Friends of the Blaine Library purchased acid-free archive boxes to store the newspapers.

The Friends group also set up a series of workdays to organize the newspapers by date.

On March 13, Gary Tomsic, Renate Tomsic, Sandra Bogen and Gail Evans spent a couple of hours in the library unpacking newspapers from the old boxes, sorting them by date and placing them in archive boxes. The volunteers wore gloves to prevent damaging the newspapers.

“We’ve emptied seven or eight boxes so far, and we’ll probably have two more work days to get to all of them,” Evans said.

“This is a terrific historical resource for the Blaine community,” said Evans, who has a Ph.D. in history. She added she hopes the library will be able to digitize the collection to make it possible to search for specific terms such as names, places and events.

Issues of The Blaine Journal-Press dating back to 1926 reveal life in Blaine hasn’t changed all that much since then. Headlines included high school base-

ball games, farmers market announcements and brand new technology. In 1936 a headline read, “Dial Telephones May Be Put In,” and today we’re seeing headlines about Internet neutrality and mobile apps.

Bogen said the group was looking for a headline about the group of Washington boys who rowed their way to the 1936 Olympics, a story that inspired Daniel James Brown’s 2014 novel Boys in the Boat. While they found the Blaine papers published during that time, no mention was made of the story.

Although they were stumped on that particular article, no doubt a rich anthology of stories lies within the collection spanning five decades, from 1926 into the ’70s.

Farmer said storing the collection would be difficult in the space-challenged library. She echoed Evans’ hopes of getting the collection digitized, which would require using a large scanner to scan the pages onto a computer.

“Digitizing the collection would be a great way to make it available to all,” she said.

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s Gary Tomsic helps sort copies of the Blaine Journal.

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Every edition online: thenorthernlight.com thenorthernlight.com

• Forklift Drivers • Machine Operators • Concrete laborers • Merchandising • Food Processing • Lumber Mill • Fish Processing • General Labor/production • Soldering • Shipping & Receiving • CDL Driver • Process Technician • CNC Operator • Dump truck driver • Dishwashing • Payroll • Accounting • Administrative Assistant • Executive Assistant • Medical Office Data Entry Please visit our website at http://bellingham.expresspros. com/ to apply or we accept applications Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:00pm

BAY CENTER Market hiring FT deli/stocker. Must be flexible for scheduling, available on weekends, and 21 y.o. or older.

Pick up application at 8050 Harborview Road, Birch Bay. PART-TIME FEMALE caregiver. Split shift ~3.5 hours a.m./~3.5 hours p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Transferring and ADL’s experience required. 360319-0427.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Natural Play Therapy/interaction with 13 year old boy with autism.

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Pet Supplies

ENGLISH RIDING show outfit—Beautiful black English jacket, made in Romania, size 12L ($75), shirt with collar ($10), riding pants size 30-32” waist ($30), black velvet english helmet size 6 7/8 ($25). All for $110 if quick, uncomplicated sale. Leave message at 360319-8725.

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12

The Northern Light • March 26 - April 1, 2015

-3

Real Estate leADge! eyDvuilC A R B h e C PRBiiRC

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2 Ay 1 D n u ns

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Northwest contemporary 4-BR, 2.5 BA home with comfortable open floor plan. MLS #755987

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BAnk owneD! 8447 Blaine Rd. • $159,900

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360-332-3166 All real estate/rentals advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin,or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.

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Blaine Birch Bay Map 2015 Call Molly at 332-1777

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WE NEED PROPERTIES TO MANAGE,

Call this Newspaper for Details

Call me today for a FREE market valuation!

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Classifieds are online at thenorthernlight.com/classifieds

March 26 - April 1, 2015 • thenorthernlight.com

Steward steps in on Blaine City Council

By Steve Guntli Blaine City Council is back to full force.

The newest member of Blaine City Council, Mary Lou Steward, officially joined the council on March 9. She is filling the vacancy in ward 3, position 5 left by Clark Cotner, who resigned from the council in January.

Steward and her husband, David, are retired anesthesiologists who have lived in Blaine for nine years. During the winter, Steward splits her time between Blaine and Whistler, where she volunteers at the ski resort.

“I grew up in a small town in B.C. that was very similar to Blaine, so I feel like it’s come full circle for me,” she said. “Most of the places I’ve lived have been for work or for school or for family.

Blaine is the first place I’ve lived because I really want to be here.”

Steward had no previous experience with politics, but she’s had a lifelong passion for local government and wanted to participate. That passion prompted Paul Greenough, a city council member and a close friend of Steward’s, to suggest she try for the vacant seat. Steward was reluctant at first, but Greenough convinced her she’d be right for the job.

“I don’t have any experience with something like this, but I know I love being here and a place is only as good as the people willing to put in the time,” she said. “I have the time, and I’m

April’s featured artists: Gabriel and Rebecca Mañalac Gabriel and Rebecca Mañalac are classically trained pianists who have recently relocated to Blaine. They love the beautiful mountains and ocean views, and appreciate the residents’ great enthusiasm for the arts – not always common in small towns.

They each have a master’s degree in piano performance, are members of the Bellingham chapter of the Music Teachers National Association and perform both individually and as a duo.

They look forward to becoming part of the arts community in Blaine through performing and teaching private piano lessons.

See their website at manalacpianostudio.com.

• April 6–26: “Harvey.” The Lynden Performing Arts Guild presents an American classic, the heartwarming comedy “Harvey,” which has been delighting audiences for over 70 years. It’s the story of an affable man who claims to have an invisible friend named Harvey: a 6' 3.5" tall rabbit.

Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com or at the box office Tuesdays–Fridays 1–3 p.m.

Admission is $12 for adults, $10

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WHATCOM COUNTY s Councilwoman Mary Lou Steward on March 17. willing to do the work.”

Steward was up against four other candidates for the spot, and said she was amazed when she heard she’d been unanimously selected for the position.

“That was really wonderful for me, because it showed me that our group is very cohesive, and that makes the transition so much easier,” she said.

Steward said her first priority while in office is to help revitalize downtown Blaine. She said the key is setting up Blaine as a yearround destination for more than just Canadians.

“We have benefited from cross-border shopping from the lower mainland, but they’re hurting too,” she said. “The value of the Canadian dollar is down, so you can’t plan on expecting the

Art Beat: April 2015

By Kitty King

13

for students and seniors and $8 for children ages 4–8. Performances will be held Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Claire vg Thomas Theatre in Lynden’s Dutch Village Mall.

Jansen Art Center, Lynden • Wednesdays in April, noon: Lunchtime Music in the Piano Lounge. Grab lunch at the Firehall Café and enjoy an hour of free music from local musicians.

Visit jansenartcenter.org for the current lineup.

• April 2, 6–8 p.m.: Promising Futures. Whatcom County high school student art, and Seattle artist Quincy Anderson, plus the continuing spring juried exhibit. Darla Bradshaw Lobb and Walt Burkett will perform live music in the piano lounge from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free.

• April 7–9: Kids Do Art! The multi-day workshops cover an array of arts, including ceramics, painting, rhythm and percussion, dance, acting, textiles, puppetry and storytell-

Photo by Steve Guntli

Canadians to fix it. For many things, like dairy, gas and mail, it’s still worth their time to come here, and that’s great. But you need something with more legs for the long term, so you don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

Like her predecessor, Steward plans to work with the economic development committee to plot the best course for downtown.

She hopes to see a medical center come to Blaine, as well.

“Anyone with any medical history is forced to go to Bellingham or Seattle,” she said. “It’d be nice if we could do something to address that.”

Steward’s term expires this December. While her term has only just begun, she said she is hoping to run for a full term if all goes well.

ing. $15–$50 for grades K-8.

Details at jansenartcenter.org.

April 18, 7:30–9 p.m.: Martin Kuuskmann and Jovino Santos Neto Live. Grammy-nominated bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann and three-time Latin Grammy-nominated pianist, composer and arranger Jovino Santos Neto. Tickets $30 in the Jansen Gallery Shop, also available at brownpapertickets.com.

• April 19, 3–4 p.m.: Sunday @ 3 Youth Concert. A showcase of talented young artists in music, dance, opera and theater. Admission by donation.

• April 22, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.: Quilting Masterclass: Mini Landscape Workshop by Helene Knott. Learn to use fabrics creatively to produce special effects. Choose from a variety of patterns to create a small scenic landscape. Price: $35.

• April 30, 7:30–8:30 p.m.: Jansen Jazz Band Concert. A community band comprised of 30 local musicians directed by Steve Herrick, director of instrumental music at Lynden High School. Tickets: $10 in the Jansen Gallery Shop and at brownpapertickets.com.

The Know: Blaine Harbor Art Gallery artists are busy preparing for the 2015 Springfest Art and Gift Tour, which will be held on Mother’s Day weekend, May 9-10.

Twenty-eight artists will participate in the 10th annual tour of Dakota Creek Winery, Semiahmoo Resort and Spa, three local studios and Paso del Norte restaurant. For more information, visit blaineharborartgallery.com

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14

The Northern Light • March 26 - April 1, 2015

Coming up

Police Reports March 20, 11:35 a.m.: A man trespassing on Burlington Northern Santa Fe right of way near Bell Road was contacted and warned by an officer who spotted him. The man gave false identifying information to the officer to avoid being arrested for his outstanding misdemeanor and felony warrants. Then when he realized his ruse had been discovered, the man fled from the officer who was trying to re-contact him. Several officers and border patrol agents were called to assist, established a perimeter and searched for the suspect.

Border patrol agents located him hiding in the brush almost two blocks away. The 35-yearold was arrested by the officer and booked into jail on the warrants and a fresh charge of obstructing public officers.

March 20, 3:06 p.m.: A mother called to report her daughter’s cell phone was stolen from her locker at school.

Police investigated and learned the girl had actually loaned the phone to a friend who was now refusing to return it. An officer contacted the friend and her family, and she quickly decided to relinquish the device.

March 21, 7:58 a.m.: Spring made a dramatic arrival on Garfield Avenue Saturday morning with weather that caused several 911 calls when a tall fir tree

in a neighbor’s yard was struck by lightning. The detonation shot branches and bark shrapnel with enough force to damage the siding on nearby houses and shatter a window. The lightning also traveled to an adjacent tree’s roots, and that explosion sprayed grass and dirt over a nearby parked vehicle.

Arriving police officers found the only injury victim was the electrocuted tree, which was so substantially damaged the owner had it removed.

March 22, 3:51 p.m.: A visitor from Texas stopped his rental vehicle south of Marine Drive to enjoy the beautiful harbor scenery. His reverie turned to shock when he realized he was parked on the railroad tracks. He quickly backed his vehicle off the tracks, and just as quickly his shock turned to remorse for having not first looked in his mirrors. Police were called to investigate the collision between the sightseer and the surprised motorist he had back into. The officers completed a state crash report and a ticket for unsafe backing.

March 22, 5:50 p.m.: Police responded to 911 call that a man was locked in a restaurant lavatory. The officers arrived to find a taxi driver camped outside the restroom, which was serving as an impromptu porcelain prison. The cabby ex-

Crossword

ACROSS 1. Looks out for, maybe 6. Character 11. Backstabber 14. Malcolm ___, “Under the Volcano” author 15. Full of roots 16. “I” problem 17. Criminal law negotiation (2 wds) 19. Animal house 20. Soap, e.g.

21. Narrow loincloth (hyphenated) 23. Compact 26. Blood carrier 27. 30-day mo.

30. “Cast Away” setting 31. Bridge toll unit 32. Traction aid 34. Breathe hard 36. “Hamlet” has five 39. Shakespeare tragedy 41. Severe mental deficiency 43. Carbon compound 44. Angelic ring of light 46. Crack

47. Bit of dust 49. Arabic for “commander” 51. Conk out 52. Flavor 54. Delicately beautiful 56. Recluse 58. Inexpensive and possibly shabby 62. A.T.M. need 63. Drunken festivity 66. Balaam’s mount 67. ___ Bowl 68. One who endeavors to persuade 69. “Malcolm X” director 70. Store for future use (2 wds) 71. Autocrats

DOWN 1. “The Sound of Music” backdrop 2. Tree trunk 3. The America’s Cup trophy, e.g.

4. Blue eyes or baldness, e.g.

plained that a couple of hours earlier a man had hired him for a trip from Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill to Blaine, but when they arrived here the customer ducked out on his tab and into the bathroom. The officers flushed out the suspect and discovered he was stalling because he had neither money nor identification. The 30-year-old Seattle resident was identified through an automated fingerprint system check and arrested for theft of services.

March 23, 9 p.m.: Dispatch received a call that a man had driven his car into a drainage ditch on Semiahmoo Parkway and was trapped inside the vehicle with water rising quickly around him. Police responded to the scene of the emergency, and discovered the predicament was not as dire as reported. The driver had pulled off the pavement when a back tire went flat, and had come to a stop in about 6 inches of mud in a roadside swale. Officers called for a tow truck to remove the car to an impound yard. The uninjured and sober but very anxious motorist voluntarily went to hospital for an evaluation.

This report is provided by the Blaine police department. A full listing of the week’s police report can be found at thenorthern light.com.

Tides

5. Person devoted to

luxury and pleasure 6. “To ___ is

human ...”

March 27 – April 2 at Blaine.

7. Deck (out) Not for navigation.

8. Sub sandwich 49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W 9. “Miss ___ Regrets” 10. The way we word DATE TIME HEIGHT TIME HEIGHT 11. Changed the

course of Fr 27 12:51 am 8.3 6:06 am 6.0 12. Bond, for one 13. Island nation east

10:52 am 7.5 6:19 pm 1.0

of Fiji Sa 28 2:03 am 8.2 7:36 am 5.9 18. Brews 22. ___ Marin, Am.

12:00 pm 7.0 7:21 pm 1.4 journalist Su 29 3:03 am 8.3 8:56 am 5.5 24. Beginning 25. Oolong, for one

1:22 pm 6.8 8:23 pm 1.6 27. #1 spot Mo 30 3:47 am 8.4 9:48 am 4.9 28. Agenda 29. Payback

2:40 pm 6.8 9:17 pm 1.8 31. Store convenience, Tu 31 4:21 am 8.4 10:26 am 4.3

for short 33. Flowering

3:42 pm 7.1 10:05 pm 2.1 35. A Judd We 1 4:51 am 8.5 11:00 am 3.6 37. Conical Native American

4:38 pm 7.4 10:47 pm 2.3 tent (var. spelling) 38. Fill Th 2 5:17 am 8.5 11:30 am 3.0 40. Not just “a”

5:26 pm 7.7 11:27 pm 2.6 42. Various plants with an edible root, tuber or underground pod 45. Grassland 48. ___ council on “Survivor” 50. Ancient Andean 52. Calyx part Precipitation: During 53. Come to mind the period of March 17 to 54. Lure March 23 there were 1.44 55. A long time inches of precipitation. The 57. Basic unit of money in 2015 year-to-date precipita Western Samoa tion is 10.82 inches.

59. Aquatic plant 60. Dock Temperature: High for 61. Boat propellers the past week was 65.2°F 64. “The Sweetheart of Sigma ___” on March 18, with a low 65. ___ Solo of “Star Wars” of 40.4°F on March 23. Av-

Weather

ANSWERS AT THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

erage temperature for the week was 50.4°F. Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.

Life Cycle Pet Cremation Open House: Thursday, March 26, 4–8 p.m., 801 W. Orchard Drive, Ste. 3, Bellingham. Info: 778-9578.

LEGO Mindstorms Club: Thursday, March 26, 6:30–8 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Learn how to program the Gripper to do awesome stuff. For ages 10+. Bimonthly. Info: 305-3637.

Spring in the Country Shop and Studio Tour: Friday–Sunday, March 27–29, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit nine local shops in Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Ferndale. Info: Spring in the Country Shop and Studio Tour Facebook.

Class Up Your Glass – Wine 101: Friday, March 27, 6–8 p.m., Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa, Ferndale. Tickets, $100 per person, include a four-piece Riedel wine glass set and wine tasting. Info: silverreefcasino.com.

Birch Bay Road Race: Saturday, March 28, 8:30 a.m., Birch Bay Waterslides, 4874 Birch Bay-Lynden Road. 15k, 30k and 5k runs. Day-of registration (opens at 6:30 a.m.) must be completed by 8:15 a.m. For costs, information and to register, visit: birchbayroadrace.com.

Native Plant Sale and Expo: Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Whatcom Community College, Bellingham. Evergreens, trees, shrubs and more.

Local nurseries, exhibitors, food and fun. Preorder available. Info: whatcomcd.org or 526-2381.

Starting Your Vegetable Garden: Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Learn where to plant, how to plot sun patterns, test soil and when and why to mulch and compost with George Kaas. Info: 332-7435.

Blooming Scraps: Saturday, March 28, 2–4 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Learn how to create flowers using basic hand-sewing techniques. Limited to the first 20. Preregistration is recommended. For adults and grades 9-12. Info: 305-3637.

Dr. Seuss Party: Wednesday, April 1, 3:15–4:15 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Celebrate your favorite Dr. Seuss characters with crafts and treats. Try green eggs and ham. For grades K-5. Info: 305-3637.

Introduction to Reiki: Wednesday, April 1, 6–8 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Learn about this healing art being used for relaxation, stress reduction, meditation and with western medicine for disease treatments. Presented by Blaine resident Carolyn Jackson. Free. Info: 305-3637.

Mingled Visions: Images from The North American Indian by Edward S. Curtis: April through May 10, Whatcom Museum, Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street, Bellingham. Featuring 40 original photographs from Edward S. Curtis’ epic work.

Easter on the Farm: Saturday and Sunday, April 4–5, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., BelleWood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden. Egg hunt ($8 general admission), petting zoo, family photos with the Easter bunny, scavenger trail hunt and face painting. Country brunch buffet 10 a.m.–2 p.m., $18.

Info: bellewoodfarms.com.

American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Easter Egg Hunt: Saturday, April 4, noon–2 p.m., 4580 Legion Drive. Rain or shine. Free hot dog lunch for kids, adults by donation.

C Shop Annual Easter Egg Hunt: Saturday, April 4, 4 p.m., behind The C Shop, 4825 Alderson Road, Birch Bay. For kids under 12. Info: 371-2070.

Water’s Edge Church Community Easter Breakfast: Bay Horizon Park activity center, Birch Bay. Enjoy a delicious Easter breakfast. Bring the whole family.

Birch Bay Easter Egg Hunt: Sunday, April 5, noon, Bay Horizon Park, Birch Bay. Bring the kids for a fun Easter Sunday egg hunt. The first 150 will receive a bag full of candy.

Blaine Senior Center Rummage Sale: Saturday, April 11, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. To donate, drop off your items Monday, April 6 through Thursday, April 9, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Info: 322-8040.

Haynie Opry: Saturday, April 11, 7 p.m., Haynie Grange, 3344 Haynie Road. Featuring Vicky Jo Bock and Joe Hanson, plus Matt Audette and the Circle of Friends Band. Tickets $10 at the door. Info: 366-3321.

Backstage at the Border Presents Woe Be Gone: Saturday, April 11, 7–9 p.m., 382 Boblett Street, Blaine. A new Bellingham group made up of cello (Clea Taylor), fiddle/banjo (Britt Keeton) and mandolin/guitar (Zach Bauman) playing a blend of genres from Irish to American folk music. Admission by $7 donation at the door. Info: backstageattheborder.com.

Life Line Screening: Monday, April 13, American Legion Post 86, 4580 Legion Drive, Blaine. Learn about your risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and other chronic, serious conditions. Packages start at $149. Preregistration required. Info: 877/237-1287.

Ongoing Birch Bay Activity Center Events: 7511 Gemini Street, Birch Bay. Zumba Fitness, Zumba Toning, Zumba Step, Pickleball, line dancing and more. Visit website for days and times. Info: bbbparkandrec.org or 656-6416.

AA Meetings: Monday and Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, noon; Wednesday, 7 p.m. (women only); Saturday, 11 a.m., United Church of Christ, 885 4th Street, Blaine.

Al-Anon Meetings: Tuesdays, 1–2 p.m., Good Samaritan Society-Stafholt, 456 C Street, Blaine. Open to all. Info: 332-8248.

Alzheimer/Dementia/Memory Loss Caregiver and Care Partners Support Group: First Tuesday of the month, 1:30–3 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street, Blaine. Info: 671-3316.

Community Meals: Wednesdays, 5–6:30 p.m., Blaine Community Center, 763 G Street. No charge for meals; donations accepted. Everyone is welcome. Info: communitymealsblaine@gmail.com.

Live Music with Ryan Sandholm: Saturdays, 6 p.m., CJ’s Beach House, 7878 Birch Bay Drive. Info: 746-8775.

Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

March 26 - April 1, 2015 • thenorthernlight.com

Blaine Christian Fellowship welcomes new lead pastor

By Steve Guntli Blaine Christian Fellowship (BCF) has introduced a new lead pastor to its congregation.

Justin Long officially took over lead pastor duties on March 22.

Long is replacing former lead pastor Ryoichi Takada, who held the position for 17 years. Takada will be staying on with the church as an assistant pastor and putting more effort into organizing global missions and teaching.

Long is originally from the small town of Archie, Missouri.

His ministry work has taken him all over the world, from Peru to China. Prior to moving to Blaine in 2004, Long lived in Colorado Springs working as a camp counselor. He moved to Blaine so he could attend school at Trinity

Western University in B.C., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and linguistics.

Long has been a member of the BCF congregation since he first arrived in town, and began leading youth services in 2006. While he has dedicated a large portion of his life to the church, he hadn’t intended on becoming a pastor.

“This was something that really started coming up in the last two years,” he said. “I had always planned on doing foreign ministry work, leading youth missions, things like that. It’s only after long talks with my wife that I decided to give this a shot.”

He has been training for the new position since last summer.

Long said he wants to focus on community outreach and make sure everyone in his congregation

feels heard and cared for.

In his free time, Long and his wife, Ann, like to go hiking with their three children.

Blaine Christian Fellowship is located at 902 Adelia Street.

Weekly Sunday services start at 10:30 a.m.

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april 3 & 4, 2015 • bellingham, wa live performances • exhibits • lectures • classes The RARE Expo returns this year with new ideas in reuse and sustainability in the arts. Events will be at the Allied Arts gallery located at 1418 Cornwall Ave. and venues around downtown Bellingham.

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The Northern Light • March 26 - April 1, 2015

Kieya Villars, 12th grade

Nikki Young, 12th grade

Kieya is such a great candidate for the Student of the Month. She is a hard worker in class and takes her education very seriously. Just lately, Kieya helped out with the County Math Championships and showed many others her selfless attitude for helping others.

Logan Magnar, 7th grade Logan is a wonderful addition to our class. He has great insight into class material, especially when it comes to novels. He works hard in class, is an avid reader and likes to talk about books. His positive attitude is contagious among the other students. Plus, he has a great sense of humor.

Brooke Langton, 4th grade Brooke displays many characteristics of a successful learner as well as being a strong leader among her peers. Brooke models kindness and respect of others through her daily interactions as well as participating in our school’s Leadership Academy.

Nikki is the epitome of a self-directed learner. She is focused and determined, with insightful and logical writing skills.

Nikki is a thoughtful young woman with a delightful sense of humor. She has invested in Blaine’s drama club by creating more than 50 African puppets for our upcoming production.

Danica Foltz, 7th grade Danica is always attentive and engaged in class. In addition, she received a perfect score of 575 on her math MSP test.

Danica is eager to participate and works well with her groups to help make sure others understand the topics as well.

Jacob Licata, 1st grade

Jacob is a smart and kind boy.

He is able to solve complex problems, and is starting to be able to show others how he solves those problems. He is a great thinker! Jacob is also kind to his peers and gets along well with others. We enjoy having him in class!

We are pleased to present a monthly look at a few of the many local youths in the Blaine School District who enhance our society and our lives, as selected by their teachers or school staff.

Connor Fleck, 5th grade

Connor is a kind young man and a good friend to his classmates. He always has new ideas or suggestions to make our school a better place.

He begins every day with a positive attitude, and takes advantage of every opportunity he is given, including participating in our school’s Leadership Academy.

Kiera May, 1st grade Kiera is very bright and talented.

She is energetic, motivated and interested in our topics and discussions. She does a great job with her assignments and has strong academic skills.

Her ability to be an empathic friend and a compassionate helper is impressive. She is an asset to our class!

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